Game apparatus



Dec. 9, 1930. E. E. JoHNsoN 1,784,068

GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 9. l1929 T' Q j@ @@cjb @@Q@ o fw o ,Y l 14 i@ g 1a 16 I Tmlm" 16 5 Jia/1 645,1

doznagt Patented Dec. 9, 1930 UNITED STATES ELMER E. JOHNSON, F JOPLIIL MISSOURI GAME APPARATUS A Application led January 9, 1929. Serial No. 831,214.

My invention relates to game apparatus. In accordance with my invention, playing cards are selected by means of balls, which may be shot by the usual pool or billiard cue,

or simply rolled by hand. Means are provided whereby the cards are preferably normally laid Hat upon the table, and when selected by the `ball or balls, are retained elevated. The apparatus is adapted for use in connection with a pool or billiard table, while not necessarilyrestricted to this particular use.

In the accompanying drawings, formin a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a plan view of game apparatus embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the card supporting device, and,

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical section through one of the pockets, and the card supe5 porting device, showing the card elevated.

In the drawings, wherein for the purposev of illustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates the ordinary pool table, the pockets 3f* of which may be covered by any suitable means.

The game apparatus embodies a table top 6, having an upstanding marginal side or flange 7 carrying Va cushion 8, upon the inner r side thereof. A longitudinal partition 9 divides the table top 6 into two separate com# partments, and a forward transverse strip 9 covers the forward'ends of these compartments, leaving ball entering openings 10, adjacent to the outer sides of the compartments, as shown. Adjacent to the openings 10, the table top 6 is provided with an inclined portion 11, whereby the balls may freely enter the compartments.

Within each compartment, the table top 6 is provided with ball receiving recesses or pockets 12. These recesses are preferably arranged in transverse and longitudinal rows. I preferably employ twenty-one ball receiving pockets in each compartment, each transverse row, excepting the forwardmost row containing five pockets,'and the forwardmost row contaming six pockets.

A card holding device is associated wit-h each ball receiving pocket 412 and includes an L-shaped base 13, arranged at the .forward side of the pocket 12, Figures 2 and' 4. Hinged tothe base 13, as shown at 14, is a card holding element 15, having openings formed therein, whereby a card 16 may be attached thereto Aby rivets 17, or thel like.y The element15 carries adjacent to its pivoted end, a trip extension or tongue 18, preferably formed integral therewith.` This tongueis longitudinally curved, as shown. The combined weight of the card and the attaching element l5 is ample to overcome the weight of the trip extension or tongue 18, and hence the cards normally assume a horizontal position upon the table top 6, in advance of the ball receiving pocket.

Y The numeral 19 designates the balls, such as pool balls, arranged near the second diamond from the head of the table.

The game apparatus, having two separate compartments, is intended to be used by two players. As before stated, there are twentyone pockets in each compartment. The twenty-one cards in each .compartment or upon each side include four aces, four kings, four queens, four jacks, four tens, and a joker. The oker counts in as an ace, and in straights and flushes only, unless otherwise agreed to by the players. Ten balls 19 are arranged in a row atthe second diamond from the head of the table, each player using live balls and accordingly having live shots. The balls may be shot with an ordinary pool or billiard cue, or they may be rolled by hand. The

players may shoot alternately, or each player may shoot his five balls in succession. IVhen the ball is shot, it travels through the opening l() and enters the compartment, and rolls about in the compartment, and if it enters a pocket 12, it will engage the trip extension 18, and the corresponding card will be elevated and retained elevated. The players may thus readily see the score being made. If any card is tripped and the ball not remain in the hole, it does not count and should be ico immediately returned to the original place, face down. Should any ball be caught between other balls, the player will continue until all tive balls have been shot. The count in determining the seore will vary depending upon the character of the Cards used. IfVhen ordinary playing cards are used, and the selection made, as described, thescore may be counted as in ordinary poker. Thus the raised Cards may constitute a royal iush, ace, king, queen, jack, and ten in one suit; four of a kind; full hand, three of a kind and a pair; iiush, all of one suit; straight of any suit; three ot` a kind; two pairs; and one pair.

It is to loe understood that the form of my invention, herewith shoWn'and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts, may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim In game apparatus, a table top having a ball receiving pocket therein, a base element` secured to said top near the forward side of said pocket, and a. card supporting element pivotally connected to said base element adjacent the upper extremity of said pocket and arranged whereby said card supporting element normally rests upon and is parallel with the upper surface of said top, said card sup` porting element having a longitudinally curved extension projecting into and covering a portion of said pocket, said extension being engageable by a ball to move said Card supporting element into an upright position and to' retain the latter element in upright position.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

ELMER E. JOHNSON. 

